Transversal toothbrush

ABSTRACT

The invention features a so-called transversal toothbrush to ensure greater brushing efficiency between the teeth and at the neck level of the teeth. It is characterized in that the direction of the handle (2) is preferably perpendicular relative to the longitudinal direction of the brush body (1). The handle is either connected fixedly with the brush body but with a deformation region (6) for transversal or longitudinal use, or it is mounted movably on the brush body. A mechanism for blocking it in position are provided on the brush body by a truncated cone (10) topped by a shaft (13) and opposite, on the handle, by an apertured hood (16) comprising two lugs (17) and part of a cylinder (18).

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention features a transversal toothbrush with a manual griphandle or attached to a power machine to provide, respectively, manualor mechanical brushing of the teeth with improved effectiveness.

Known toothbrushes are composed of a body, a front face, and a handle.The brush body is approximately rectangular and has rows of 7 to 12tufts of bristles aligned in the direction of the length of the brushbody. This body is extended along the length on one small side by ahandle; such brushes are then called longitudinal brushes. There arealso toothbrushes having a circular brush body with a diameter on theorder of 1 cm for special applications.

With such brushes, the brushing of the teeth is done primarily by largeamplitude longitudinal push-and-pull movements from front to backaccording to the longitudinal direction of the brush parallel to therows of teeth, perpendicular to the direction of the teeth, andtherefore called longitudinal brushing.

The known longitudinal toothbrushes were obviously required becauseuntil now it was thought that the brushing should be done parallel tothe rows of teeth with large amplitude back and forth movements, fromthe incisors to the molars, using the muscles of the arm which make theforearm turn at the elbow or by pivoting the whole arm at the shoulderthrough the action of the rotator muscles.

The toothbrush according to the invention runs counter to such evidenceand habits with respect to the brushing of teeth. It is composed of anessentially rectangular brush body with a handle appreciably angled,preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the brushbody. Although at first sight this new configuration would appear not towork well because of not reaching the back teeth, it allows effectivebrushing because it promotes a transversal brushing consisting of an upand down transversal movement perpendicular to the rows of teeth andparallel to the teeth and to their implantation.

This "transversal" brushing cleans the prominent parts, and also theinterstices and recessed parts of the teeth where material tends tocollect and become stuck. It also allows a better massaging action onthe gingiva, with greater efficiency in eliminating tartar at the collumdentis.

Longitudinal brushing with known longitudinal brushes permits goodcleaning of the prominent parts of the teeth, but is not very effectiveon the interstices and recessed parts of the teeth. With such brushestransversal brushing is also quite possible, but with little vigorbecause it consists of a somewhat unnatural oscillating movementobtained by the rotating action of the wrist, the muscles of which arenot very precise, strong or efficacious for exercise of this type.

Advantageously, the brush according to the invention allows brushing tobe done when the handle is held fully in the hand, not using anoscillating movement but rather by pushes and pulls produced by turningthe arm on itself with the bent forearm remaining rigid, or by pivotingthe whole arm around the shoulder using the rotator muscles. In thiscase the inside of the hand is facing the chest, the articulation of thewrist, the muscles of the forearm and arm exercise significant pressureon the brush and the transversal brushing is very vigorous in thereciprocating vertical movements. This hold on the handle is the onlyone that allows a natural, easy reciprocating vertical movement. Forchildren, holding this brush with such a different handle becomes agame, resulting in better hygiene. Studies have shown that handicappedpersons have greater facility in producing an up-and-down movement thanhorizontal pushes and pulls.

Several toothbrush models having the form of a capital T allow anup-and-down brushing of the teeth; the brush body is the top horizontalmember and the handle is the vertical staff of the T.

Some models are fixed, such as those described in documents DE 3228946and FR 2,583,963. The first document describes a straight brush body orcurved in order to accommodate the concavity of the jaw. Document FR2,583,963 shows a brush whose orientation is accomplished by deformationof the handle which must be manufactured from a material withappropriate mechanical properties, or from a flexible plastic materialmolded onto a metal insert. These two documents do not reflect thatabout one-third of the handle, starting from the brush body, must have aconcave curve with respect to the face when the brush is in the cleaningposition. The information from these documents only poses the problem ofwhat the geometric invention should be without defining the materialsand their geometric shape, the precise definition of which is notevident to a specialist. The solution to the problems of such type ofbrush is not indicated in order that the technical questions might beresolved.

In document WO 95/01113 the angular hold is obtained by a mushroomshaped pin with longitudinal thin strips that engage in a cavity of thehandle. In documents DE 2427877 and FR 2,583,963 the blocking ofrotation is effected only in two positions, one longitudinal and theother transversal. These three documents do not take into account thecurvature of the handle in order to make transversal brushing possiblewithout striking the chin. The numerous unsealed surfaces of therotation systems are only so many niches for detritus and bacteria thatare reintroduced into the mouth at the next brushing. Toothpaste canpenetrate between these surfaces, and hardening there, can jam thesystem and considerably increase the wear of the friction parts, andthus the working life of the unit. Document FR 2,583,963 FIGS. 1, 5, 7,and document DT 24,27,877 FIGS. 3, 4, 5 show a handle the concave partof which corresponds only to the length of clearance of rotation of thebrush body, which is clearly insufficient to clear the chin. The profileof the handle of document UK 2101476 is totally nonfunctional becausethe starting point of the handle comes up against the lips, hinderingthe brushing.

Document D 077,889 shows a brush with two transversal positions and twolongitudinal positions where the male end of the handle dovetails intothe brush body. Blocking-in-position is obtained by a system of ballsand a spring placed in the brush body. This document does not take intoaccount the necessary curve of the handle to allow it to clear the chin.This system also has the disadvantage that the blocking-in-position isnot definitive and the brush body can separate from the handle in themouth and can be swallowed or cause a more serious accident byobstruction of the upper respiratory tract.

The handles shown in this prior art only take into account the rotationof the brush body while completely ignoring the problem posed by theclearance of the chin.

In other models, the brush body is shown rotatable on the handle, inorder to bring it back in line with the handle in a traditionalfront-to-back brushing of the teeth. U.S. Pat. No. 5,499,422 describes abrush the handle of which is blocked in position with respect to thebrush body by an anti-friction washer pressed by a rivet between asurface of the handle and a surface of the brush body. Document GB2,101,476 shows a system for blocking-in-position that is composed ofsufficient friction or by an appropriate locking means, whether thehandle is constituted by a groove and a spring joint or equivalentmeans, or the shaft is equipped with a spring to make the headinterchangeable. In these documents the means for blocking-in-positionare not precisely described. It is also said that the head isinterchangeable, which involves the risk that the brush body woulddetach and be swallowed during use, and possibly the risk of a moreserious accident through obstruction of the respiratory tract. The largesurface area between the two opposite supports and the unprotectedmechanism constitute a niche for detritus and bacteria that are notcompatible with our standards of hygiene. In U.S. Pat. No. 4,020,521,the rotation of the brush body is blocked by recessed saw tooth groovesaccording to the generators of a cylindrical bar of the brush bodycooperating with the complementary recessed grooves around the peripheryof an aperture in the handle. To allow the inclusion of the largerdiameter bar in the bore hole, the hole has a radial slot on theoutside. In this patent, the mechanism has no means, during the use ofthe brush, to prevent the separation of the brush body and handle, thusproducing a significant risk of swallowing the brush body as well as therisk of obstruction of the respiratory tract as well. The mechanism hasno protection to isolate the detritus, bacteria and toothpaste.Moreover, in FIG. 1 of the patent, it can be seen that the end of thesplit handle when it is in the transversal position projects outside thebrush body and butts against the top of the gingivae, making itimpossible to use the brush in the transversal position.

According to the invention, the elasticity and mechanical strengthdesigns of the brush have made it possible to select type DR 51 PBT foodNylon as material. The brush body is fixedly connected, on one of itslarge sides, to the curved handle the direction of which isapproximately in a center plane of the brush body. The brush body shouldbe long enough that its right and left ends reach the molars without thestarting point of the curved handle uncomfortably deforming the cornerof the mouth, and that the handle can, by a narrowing, take thelongitudinal position and the transversal position.

According to another example of realization, the handle is movablymounted on the brush body. It pivots around an assembly and blockingmeans between the handle and the brush body fix the handle in thetransversal and longitudinal positions.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention concerns a transversal toothbrush composed of a brush bodyand a handle the longitudinal direction of which is transversal in anangled or perpendicular manner, with respect to the longitudinaldirection of the brush body, so as to permit a transversal up-and-downbrushing parallel to the direction of the teeth; in such a way, that thehandle, after the brush body, has a curve so that during brushing thebristles of the brush make good contact with the teeth and the handleclears the lips and chin. The part of the handle connected to the brushbody is at an angle between 2° and 45° with the plane of the brush.Starting from the end in contact with the brush body, the profile of thehandle has a concave curved region 6.7 centimeters long with a maximumdepth of 1 centimeter tending to move the handle laterally away from theplane of the brush, then an inflexion region where the curve isreversed, making an angle of 0.5° to 10° with respect to the plane ofthe brush, then a convex handgrip region.

The free end of the handle broadens out in the form of a tripod,allowing the brush to be supported vertically, directly on a horizontalplane. The brush handle has a deformation region allowing the handle totake all transversal or longitudinal positions. The deformation regionis of the same material as the brush, i.e., a plastic material havingphysical properties identical to what is marketed under the type DR 51PBT food Nylon brand and rectangular in shape 1.5 millimeters wide, 10millimeters long and 4.5 millimeters high. The brush is rotatablymounted with blocking-in-position accomplished on the brush body by atruncated cone with recessed or raised teeth topped by a shaft with aretention lip, and attached to the handle by a hood apertured to thediameter of the shaft, and at least two teeth and a cylinder partcooperating with the teeth of the brush body; or, by a smooth truncatedcone and topped with a shaft and attached to the handle by an aperturedconical hood; or, by a truncated cone with recessed and raised teethtopped with a shaft with a retention lip and attached to the handle by ahood apertured to the diameter of the shaft, and at least three cylinderparts cooperating with the teeth of the brush body. The upper sealingmeans between the support shaft and the aperture of the hood areprovided by the same diameter aperture and shaft. The lower sealingmeans are provided by the base of the hood which penetrates the brushbody by the recessed groove.

The invention is better understood by viewing the examples ofrealization shown in the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1a shows a fixed transversal handle toothbrush;

FIG. 1b shows a side view of a fixed transversal handle toothbrush;

FIG. 1c shows a toothbrush with the deformation region;

FIG. 2a shows a brush body with a geared truncated cone;

FIG. 2b shows a brush body with smooth cone;

FIG. 3a shows the hood with the three cylinder parts for blocking inposition and the pawl;

FIG. 3b shows the hood with two teeth for blocking in position and acylinder part for centering and holding;

FIG. 4a shows a longitudinal cross section of the brush body; and

FIG. 4b shows a longitudinal cross section of the hood with the twoteeth.

Corresponding reference numerals will be used throughout the severalfigures of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The following detailed description illustrates the invention by way ofexample and not by way of limitation. This description will clearlyenable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, anddescribes several embodiments, adaptations, variations, alternatives anduses of the invention, including what we presently believe is the bestmode of carrying out the invention.

The brush according to the invention is composed of an elongated brushbody (1), rectangular in shape, preferably having one to fourlongitudinal rows of holes (3) in the brush body to hold the bristles,and an elongated handle (2) perpendicular to the longitudinal directionof the brush body. The handle (2) is connected directly to the brushbody (1) on one large side (4) of the latter; or, on the rear face ofthe brush body in such a way that the plane of the front face of thebrush body (1) is in a plane offset with respect to the plane containingthe handle which has immediately after its point of origin a curve (5)which allows clearance of the jaw while the brush is being used. Each ofthe two wings of the brush body on each side of the handle (2) is ofsufficient length that the tufts of the end bristles reach the teeth atthe back when the point of origin of the handle is in contact with thecorner of the mouth. The handle has been designed so that in crosssection, after its point of origin, it has an ovoid shape with diametersof 5.5 millimeters by 5 millimeters, and has a regular curve or contour(5) with a height of 6.7 centimeters and a maximum depth of 10millimeters with respect to a line connecting the two ends of thiscurve. According to studies, in 95% of cases this allows the chin to becleared when the brush is used in the most comfortable position; i.e.,the elbow pressed against the body, and the forearm, wrist and hand inthe same plane very close to the chest in order to reduce as much aspossible the effort due to brushing. Because this brushing position isthe most natural, it allows the bristles of the brush to be uniformly incontact with the teeth and gingivae for maximum effectiveness. On thecurve, at 15 millimeters from the brush body, there is a narrowing (6)or deformation region that allows the brush to be moved laterallywithout changing the position of the brush body. This narrowing iscentered in the longitudinal axis of the handle. It has a thickness of1.5 millimeters, a length of 10 millimeters, and a height of 4.5millimeters. It allows the lateral movement of the handle with respectto the brush body. For aesthetic reasons, it is covered with an elasticover-molding. After the first curve, the handle has a reverse curve of2° (two degrees) which increases in volume because this is the area thatis held by the hand. Its thickness goes from 14 millimeters to 27millimeters. The interior of the handle, in this larger part, is hollowfor economy of weight and raw material. The grip has an over-mold ofelastic material (7) and has 10 semicircles (8) for a better grip of thebrush. It ends in a tripod the points (9) which are spaced 20millimeters apart and which allows the brush to stand upright withoutsupport for better hygiene (FIG. 1c).

The power brush is attached to the handle after the curved part requiredto clear the chin. The other brush examples are provided for the samehandle as the one described above.

According to another example of realization, the handle (2) is movablymounted on the body of the brush (1) in such a way that the longitudinalaxes of the handle and brush body can take different directions. Thismobility allows several advantageous configurations of the brush. Thefirst consists of transforming the transversal brush according to theinvention into a longitudinal brush where the axes of the handle andbrush body are aligned, the handle being able to take any intermediatedirections with respect to the brush body which allow the means ofattachment and mechanical blocking of the handle to the brush body. Thusthe brush body, in its transversal center plane, has a gear-shapedtruncated cone (10) with a 70° sweep angle with 12 rounded teeth inrelief (11) with a value of 0.5 and 12 recessed rounded teeth (12) witha value of 0.5. The rounded shape of the teeth was designed to limit thewear of the mechanism and to facilitate the orientation of the handle byelastic deformation of the cooperating parts. The teeth are equidistantfrom each other. The angle between one tooth in relief and the nextrecessed tooth is 15°. On the upper base of the truncated cone iscentered a shaft (13) the top of which has a radius of 1.85 millimetersand a height of 1 millimeter, and the bottom has a radius of 1.55millimeter and a height of 1 millimeter. This top part of the shaft iscalled the retention lip (14). This cone and shaft assembly is of thesame material as the brush body and they are molded together at the sametime. The handle is elongated at its end by a hood (15) the circularbase of which has a diameter of 11.6 millimeters, the top a diameter of5 millimeters, with a height of 4.6 millimeters. The top has an aperture(16) with a radius of 1.55 millimeters in order to clip it onto theshaft, so that the assembly cannot be taken apart.

According to a first variation, inside the hood (FIG. 3b) and at itstop, in front of the end of the handle, there are two rounded 0.5 teeth(17) for blocking the handle, hood and brush body assembly in position.Inside of the hood, throughout its fall height there is a conical partof a cylinder (18) opposite the teeth in relief of the brush body, forthe purpose of centering and blocking the handle in position. The changefrom one tooth to the other is possible because of the elasticity of thecooperating parts and the slight raising (0.5 millimeter) of the hoodwhen changing from one tooth to the other tooth. The seal for the upperpart of the hood is ensured by the diameter of the shaft being identicalto that of the aperture of the hood. The lower seal is ensured by arecessed circular guide track (19) in the brush body, and by the base ofthe hood (20) which is accommodated therein.

According to a second variation, FIG. 3a there are three cylinder parts(21) equidistant from each other to come into contact with the teeth inrelief, thus ensuring the centering of the assembly. Theblocking-in-position is made possible by a pawl (22) acting as a toothand cooperating with the teeth of the cone of the brush body. The changeof position of the handle is possible because of the elasticity ofcooperating parts and by the slight raising (0.5 millimeter) of thehood.

According to another example of realization, approximately on thetransversal central plane of the brush body (FIG. 2b), there is atruncated cone with smooth surface (23) topped by the same type of shaftas described where the cone is toothed, and in which the handle has,opposite its end, a circular hood the internal surface of which exactlyfits on the outer surface of the cone of the brush body. Because the topof the hood is apertured as in the examples described above, theblocking in position is achieved by friction of one cone inside theother.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects andadvantages of the present invention have been achieved and otheradvantageous results have been obtained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A transversal toothbrush composed of an elongatedbrush body (1), and an elongated handle (2) the longitudinal directionof which is transversal with respect to the longitudinal direction ofthe brush body so as to permit a transversal up-and-down brushingparallel to the direction of the teeth, in such a way that the handle,after the brush body, has a curve (5) so that during brushing, thebristles of the brush make good contact with the teeth and the handleclears the lips and chin, and the profile of the handle has a concaveregion (5) starting from the end in contact with the brush body tendingto move the handle laterally away from the plane of the brush body, theprofile of the handle then has an inflexion region where the curve isreversed and the handle is rotatably mounted with a blocking-in-positionaccomplished on the brush body (1) by a truncated cone (10) withrespective recessed (12) and raised (11) teeth, the body topped by ashaft (13) with a retention lip (14) and attached to the handle by ahood (15) apertured (16) to the diameter of the shaft and at least twoteeth (17) and a cylinder part (18) cooperating with the teeth of thebrush body.
 2. The toothbrush according to claim 1, in which the part ofthe handle connected to the brush body is generally transversal in anangled manner with respect to the longitudinal direction of the brushbody.
 3. The toothbrush according to claim 2, in which the part of thehandle connected to the brush body is at an angle generally between 2°and 45° with the plane of the brush body.
 4. The toothbrush according toclaim 1, in which the part of the handle connected to the brush body istransversal in a perpendicular manner with respect to the longitudinaldirection of the brush body.
 5. The toothbrush according to claim 1, inwhich the inflexion region where the curve is reversed makes an angle ofgenerally 0.5° to 10° with respect to the plane of the brush body, andthen makes a convex handgrip region.
 6. The toothbrush according toclaim 1, in which the free end of the handle broadens out in the form ofa tripod (9) such that the brush is supported vertically, directly on ahorizontal plane.
 7. The toothbrush according to claim 1 in which thebrush handle has a deformation region (6) allowing the handle to takeall transversal or longitudinal positions with respect to the plane ofthe brush body.
 8. The toothbrush according to claim 7 in which thedeformation region is of the same material as the body and the handle.9. The toothbrush according to claim 7 in which the deformation regionis generally rectangular in shape.
 10. The toothbrush according to claim9 in which the body and the handle and deformation region are made of atype DR 51 PBT food nylon.
 11. The toothbrush of claim 10 in which thedeformation region is approximately 1.5 millimeters wide, approximately10 millimeters long, and approximately 4.5 millimeters high.
 12. Thetoothbrush according to claim 1 in which the concave curved region (5)is approximately 6.7 centimeters long with a maximum depth ofapproximately 1 centimeter.
 13. The toothbrush of claim 1 having a sealprovided by the aperture (16) of the hood and the shaft (13), and asealing lip (20) of the hood which penetrates a cavorelievo (19) of thebrush body.
 14. A transversal toothbrush composed of an elongated brushbody (1), and an elongated handle (2) the longitudinal direction ofwhich is transversal with respect to the longitudinal direction of thebrush body so as to permit a transversal up-and-down brushing parallelto the direction of the teeth, the handle, after the brush body, has acurve (5) so that during brushing, the bristles of the brush make goodcontact with the teeth and the handle clears the lips and chin andstarting from the end in contact with the brush body, the profile of thehandle has a concave region (5) tending to move the handle laterallyaway from the plane of the brush body, then an inflexion region wherethe curve is reversed and the handle is rotatably mounted with ablocking-in-position accomplished on the brush body by a smoothtruncated cone (23) and topped with a shaft (13), and attached to thehandle by an apertured conical hood.
 15. The toothbrush according toclaim 14, in which the part of the handle connected to the brush body isgenerally transversal in an angled manner with respect to thelongitudinal direction of the brush body.
 16. The toothbrush accordingto claim 15, in which the part of the handle connected to the brush bodyis at an angle generally between 2° and 45° with the plane of the brushbody.
 17. The toothbrush according to claim 14, in which the part of thehandle connected to the brush body is transversal in a perpendicularmanner with respect to the longitudinal direction of the brush body. 18.The toothbrush according to claim 14, in which the inflexion regionwhere the curve is reversed makes an angle of 0.5° to 10° with respectto the plane of the brush body, and then makes a convex handgrip region.19. The toothbrush according to claim 14 in which the free end of thehandle broadens out in the form of a tripod (9), allowing the brush tobe supported generally vertically, directly on a generally horizontalplane.
 20. The toothbrush according to claim 14 in which the brushhandle has a deformation region (6) allowing the handle to take alltransversal or longitudinal positions with respect to the plane of thebrush body.
 21. The toothbrush according to claim 20 in which thedeformation region is of the same material as the body and the handle.22. The toothbrush according to claim 20 in which the deformation regionis generally rectangular in shape.
 23. The toothbrush according to claim22 in which the body and the handle and deformation region are made of atype DR 51 PBT food nylon.
 24. The toothbrush of claim 23 in which thedeformation region is approximately 1.5 millimeters wide, 10 millimeterslong, and 4.5 millimeters high.
 25. The toothbrush according to claim 14in which the concave curved region (5) is approximately 6.7 centimeterslong with a maximum depth of approximately 1 centimeter.
 26. Thetoothbrush of claim 14 having a seal provided by the aperture (16) ofthe hood and the shaft (13), and a sealing lip (20) of the hood whichpenetrates a cavorelievo (19) of the brush body.
 27. A transversaltoothbrush composed of an elongated brush body (1), and an elongatedhandle (2) the longitudinal direction of which is generally transversalwith respect to the longitudinal direction of the brush body so as topermit a transversal up-and-down brushing parallel to the direction ofthe teeth such that the handle, after the brush body, has a curve (5) sothat during brushing, the bristles of the brush make good contact withthe teeth and the handle clears the lips and chin and starting from theend in contact with the brush body, the profile of the handle has aconcave region (5) tending to move the handle laterally away from theplane of the brush body, then an inflexion region where the curve isreversed and the handle is rotatably mounted with a blocking-in-positionaccomplished on the brush body (1) by a truncated cone (10) withrespective recessed (12) and raised (11) teeth, the body topped by ashaft (13) with a retention lip (14) and attached to the handle by ahood (15) apertured (16) to the diameter of the shaft, and at leastthree cylinder parts (21) cooperating with the teeth of the brush body.28. The toothbrush according to claim 27, in which the part of thehandle connected to the brush body is generally transversal in an angledmanner with respect to the longitudinal direction of the brush body. 29.The toothbrush according to claim 28, in which the part of the handleconnected to the brush body is at an angle generally between 2° and 45°with the plane of the brush body.
 30. The toothbrush according to claim27, in which the part of the handle connected to the brush body isgenerally transversal in a perpendicular manner with respect to thelongitudinal direction of the brush body.
 31. The toothbrush accordingto claim 27, in which the inflexion region where the curve is reversedmakes an angle generally of 0.5° to 10° with respect to the plane of thebrush body and then makes a convex handgrip region.
 32. The toothbrushaccording to claim 27, in which the free end of the handle broadens outin the form of a tripod (9), allowing the brush to be supportedgenerally vertically, directly on a generally horizontal plane.
 33. Thetoothbrush according to claim 27, in which the brush handle has adeformation region (6) allowing the handle to take all transversal orlongitudinal positions with respect to the plane of the brush body. 34.The toothbrush according to claim 33, in which the deformation region isof the same material as the body and the handle.
 35. The toothbrushaccording to claim 33, in which the deformation region is generallyrectangular in shape.
 36. The toothbrush according to claim 35, in whichthe body and the handle and deformation region are made of a type DR 51PBT food nylon.
 37. The toothbrush of claim 36, in which the deformationregion is approximately 1.5 millimeters wide, 10 millimeters long, and4.5 millimeters high.
 38. The toothbrush according to claim 27, in whichthe concave curved region (5) is approximately 6.7 centimeters long witha maximum depth of approximately 1 centimeter.
 39. The toothbrush ofclaim 27, having a seal provided by the aperture (16) of the hood andthe shaft (13), and a sealing lip (20) of the hood which penetrates acavorelievo (19) of the brush body.